Puffins in Jenny's Cove, K Power
As Lundy’s seabirds get even busier feeding hungry offspring, and Millcombe throngs with young Passerines, especially Starlings, we notice the absence of passing non-resident birds. However, there is plenty of breeding activity to occupy us. On 7th during Manx Shearwater nest box checks, the team observed that the first egg laid this season had begun to hatch. We await sightings of the first chick of the year during the next checks! Guillemot productivity monitoring on 6th resulted in 17 chicks observed within 2 hours, and Razorbill young have been spotted around the island. St Phillips Stone buttress, which homed 4 Puffins in 2003, held 150 proud birds standing on the cliffs on 6th June.
Several Oystercatcher chicks have been spotted around the Landing Bay and pairs are active all around Lundy’s coast. Shag offspring are craning their heads out of nests now, with over 27 known nests on the East Coast.
Blue-Headed Wagtail and Peregrine sightings remain strong, and Wren, Wheatear and Goldfinch juveniles have been seen.
Wren fledgelings, E Sherwell
Absences of Teal and Water Rail on Pondsbury are notable for this time of year.
A Ringed Plover passed on the East on 2nd, and Collared Dove was recorded on 3rd and 8th. The 8th also provided sightings of a likely Jackdaw close to the village, an infrequent visitor to Lundy.
A North End sea watch on 8th produced a Mediterranean Gull passing close to the island, and at least 450 Manx Shearwater dancing above the waves.